NewzIntel.com

Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI: BEN Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brand Engagement Network Inc. (BEN) (NASDAQ: BNAI), an innovator in AI-driven customer engagement solutions, today announced its financial results and key business highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    “2024 was a defining year for BEN, as we accelerated our expansion in key sectors like automotive, media, and healthcare. In Q4, we successfully integrated our AI-powered solutions with Cox Automotive’s Dealer.com and formed strategic partnerships in Mexico and Europe, further strengthening our global presence,” said Paul Chang, CEO of Brand Engagement Network. “BEN’s innovation enables businesses to adopt safe, secure, turn-key AI solutions to drive efficiency in many aspects of operations in a scalable, cost-effective manner. As we look forward to 2025, we’re excited to build on our recent momentum, refine our solutions in high-growth sectors, and further expand our AI capabilities to meet market demands.”

    Q4 2024 Key Business Highlights:

    • Walid Khiari Appointed CFO and COO: Walid Khiari, with over 20 years of experience in finance and 15 years as a technology investment banker advising software companies, will lead BEN’s next phase of innovation and global expansion.
    • Cataneo Acquisition: BEN has agreed to acquire 100% of Cataneo GmbH for $19.5 million in cash and stock to expand its global media reach and strengthen its AI-driven advertising capabilities. The transaction is subject to securing financing and obtaining customary regulatory approvals and guarantees by certain BEN shareholders. Closing is currently targeted for Q2 2025.
    • AI-Driven Radio Advertising with Vybroo & Grupo Siete: BEN and Cataneo GmbH partnered with Vybroo and Grupo Siete on a pilot program to modernize radio advertising in Mexico by streamlining ad placement and optimizing campaign performance.
    • Cox Automotive Partnership: BEN successfully integrated its Digital AI Assistant with Cox Automotive’s Dealer.com, enhancing customer engagement and dealership operations through personalized, multimodal experiences.
    • CareHub: BEN signed an agreement with CareHub to deploy GenAI Agents to assist nurse care managers with Remote Patient Monitoring to deliver improved patient outcomes specifically for Chronic Care Management.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information
    The Company will host a conference call and webcast today, Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. CEO Paul Chang and CFO and COO Walid Khiari will lead the call and provide an overview of the company’s financial performance, key business highlights, and strategic outlook.

    Participants can register here to access the live webcast of the conference call. Those who prefer to join the call via phone can register using this link to receive a dial-in number and unique PIN.

    The webcast will be archived for one year following the conference call and can be accessed on BEN’s investor relations website at https://investors.beninc.ai/.

    About Brand Engagement Network (BEN)
    Brand Engagement Network Inc. (NASDAQ: BNAI) innovates in AI-powered customer engagement, delivering safe, intelligent, and scalable solutions. Its proprietary Engagement Language Model (ELM™) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture enable highly personalized interactions supported by customers’ curated data in closed-loop environments. BEN develops AI-driven engagement solutions for the life sciences, automotive, and retail industries, featuring AI-powered avatars for outbound campaigns, inbound customer service, and real-time recommendations. With a global AI research and development team, BEN provides secure cloud-based or on-premises deployments, granting complete control of the technology stack and ensuring compliance with GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 1 standards. The company holds 21 patents, with 28 pending, demonstrating its commitment to advancing AI-driven consumer engagement. For more information, visit www.beninc.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of BEN to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” or “would,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.

    These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside BEN’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: uncertainties as to the timing of the acquisition with Cataneo Gmbh (the “Acquisition”); the risk that the Acquisition may not be completed on the anticipated terms in a timely manner or at all; (the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the consummation of the Acquisition, including the ability to obtain financing to fund the Acquisition on terms that are acceptable or at all; the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the Acquisition may not be satisfied or waived; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the purchase agreement; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by the purchase agreement on the Company’s ability to retain and hire key personnel, its ability to maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or its operating results and business generally; risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the Acquisition; risks that the benefits of the Acquisition are not realized when and as expected; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to BEN; uncertainty regarding and the failure to realize the anticipated benefits from future production-ready deployments; the attraction and retention of qualified directors, officers, employees and key personnel; our ability to grow our customer base; BEN’s history of operating losses; BEN’s need for additional capital to support its present business plan and anticipated growth; technological changes in BEN’s market; the value and enforceability of BEN’s intellectual property protections; BEN’s ability to protect its intellectual property; BEN’s material weaknesses in financial reporting; BEN’s ability to navigate complex regulatory requirements; the ability to maintain the listing of BEN’s securities on a national securities exchange; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations; the effects of competition on BEN’s business; and the risks of operating and effectively managing growth in evolving and uncertain macroeconomic conditions, such as high inflation and recessionary environments. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

    BEN cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. BEN cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. BEN does not undertake nor does it accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, and it does not intend to do so unless required by applicable law. Further information about factors that could materially affect BEN, including its results of operations and financial condition, is set forth under “Risk Factors” in BEN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Media Contact 
    Amy Rouyer
    P: 503-367-7596
    E: amy@beninc.ai

    Investor Relations
    Susan Xu
    P: 778-323-0959
    E: sxu@allianceadvisors.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: US accounted for 90% of global bank fines imposed in 2024 – Finbold

    Source: Finbold

    Finbold’s 2024 Bank Fines Report found that 57 fines larger than $500,000 were issued to banks worldwide in 2024 due to a wide range of violations for a total penalty sum of $4.5 billion. (ref. https://finbold.com/report/bank-fines-2024 )

    According to Finbold research, anti-money laundering (AML) breaches were the most common violation, and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank) was forced to pay $3.09 billion over related failures.

    Furthermore, TD Bank’s fine accounted for 68.67% of the amount levied in 2024, while the US regulators collected $4.08 billion—slightly more than 90% of the cumulative global amount.

    UK and Sweden lead Europe trail behind the US

    British and Swedish regulators were responsible for the largest fines outside the US. In the UK, HSBC Bank was penalized with $74.12 million for failing to implement depositor protection, while in Sweden, Klarna Bank AB was compelled to pay $46 million over AML issues.

    Finland, whose fines totaled $35 million, found itself in the fourth stop. The country’s enforcement is also notable for involving Nordea Bank’s failures to prevent money laundering and other criminal activities, as revealed by the 2016 Panama Papers.

    China imposed only $31 million in bank fines in 2024

    Elsewhere, China may be the biggest surprise of the report. Despite boasting the world’s second-biggest economy by nominal gross domestic product (GDP), it was only fourth in the total number of cases, at three, and fifth in the total penalty amount, at $31.22 million.

    As Andreja Stojanovic, a co-author of the research, pointed out:

    “In the US, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures just over 4,000 such corporations, aligning the American case proportion with the dominance of the country’s banking sector. Despite imposing substantially lower and fewer fines, China is also cited as having more than 4,000 banking institutions.”

    Lastly, the figure for China does not change much for those who prioritize the ‘one country’ over the ‘two systems,’ as there was only one case in Hong Kong, which resulted in a relatively small fine of $510,000.

    Read the full story with statistics here: https://finbold.com/us-accounted-for-90-of-global-bank-fines-imposed-in-2024-finbold-report/

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    – Secretary-General’s Town Hall
    – South Sudan
    – Sudan
    – Security Council
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Haiti
    – Financial Contribution

    SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TOWN HALL
    This morning, the Secretary-General held a global town hall meeting with UN staff.
    He thanked staff members for their service and encouraged them to continue and persevere with their work despite various political and budget pressures.
    He underscored that it’s important to stay fixed on the fundamentals and emphasized that the United Nations has never been more needed, our values have never been more relevant, and the demands have never been greater.
    He also updated staff members on the financial situation of the Organization and on cash conservation measures and added that he would continue to appeal to donors to reconsider and for Member States to pay up their budget dues.
    The Secretary-General reiterated his support to doing everything possible to support people in need around the world, to exercise our mandate, and to honour staff.

    SOUTH SUDAN
    The Secretary-General is following with deep concern the alarming situation in South Sudan.
    The peacekeeping mission on the ground has called on all Parties in the country to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement. The peacekeeping mission is also joining other regional and international peace partners in expressing alarm at the detention under house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar.
    The UN warns that this action takes the country yet one step closer to the edge of a collapse into civil war and the dismantling of the peace agreement.
    The peacekeeping mission is, again, urging the President and First Vice President to resolve grievances, end the military confrontation, uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement and take the country forward together towards the peaceful and democratic future their people deserve.
    It should be clear to all that the people of South Sudan can ill afford to endure the consequences of the civil war.
    As a stark reminder, 9.3 million people are already in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, with conflict, climate and the economic crisis keeping too many people on the very edge of survival.
    It’s vital that the leaders of the country put the interest of the people first and foremost.

    SUDAN
    Turning to Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is following the situation in Khartoum closely, amidst the latest shifts of control in the city. They continue to receive alarming reports of reprisals by armed groups against civilians.
    The UN reiterates that civilians are not a target and that all parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Serious violations must be investigated, with perpetrators held to account.
    Meanwhile, the UN and its humanitarian partners are seizing every opportunity to reach people in need with vital support.
    The World Food Programme says that today 1,200 metric tonnes of food and nutrition assistance were distributed to about 100,000 people in Bahri and Omdurman localities of Khartoum state. These are the first WFP aid trucks to get through to these specific areas within Khartoum since the latest round of hostilities started.
    And the International Organization Migration reports that nearly 400,000 internally displaced people have recently returned to their towns and villages of origin across Al Jazirah, Sennar, and Khartoum states. However, many are returning to areas with little – to no access to – basic services, including shelter, food, and healthcare. Unfortunately, displacement from North Darfur and White Nile states has increased due to heightened insecurity.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=27%20March%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqsfYzw4frE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: March 27th, 2025 VIDEO: ICYMI—Heinrich Joins MSNBC to Discuss Signalgate: “There Were Details in These Exchanges That Put Peoples’ Lives at Risk”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, appeared on MSNBC with Jen Psaki yesterday, where he reacted to Trump Administration intelligence officials lying under oath to his question during Tuesday’s hearing on whether intelligence officials’ Signal group chat included precise information on weapons packages, targets, or timing.

    VIDEO: Heinrich joins MSNBC to discuss senior Trump Administration officials’ reckless, dangerous, and illegal handling of highly sensitive war plans in Yemen, risking the lives of American troops.

    On the Signal chat transcript:

    Jen Psaki: Senator, I know you’ve been living this, trying to get more information, trying to ask very valid legitimate questions. But you hadn’t seen those text messages until this morning. 

    Senator Heinrich: Nope, just like everyone else.

    Psaki: What did you think when you read them? 

    Heinrich: Well, I thought, how can you come and testify in front of Congress, and not think, given everything that’s gone on, that the details would come out? When you have the Director of the CIA, when you have the DNI, just brazenly lying to Congress, how could they not think that this wasn’t going to come out at some point, or that we wouldn’t get to the bottom of it? It is deeply disappointing.

    On Trump Administration officials lying under oath to Heinrich’s question about contents of Signal chat:

    Psaki: Secretary Hegseth also lied about this. They [Directors Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe] weren’t the only people lying about it. They were sitting there under oath testifying in Congress. 

    Heinrich: Yes. 

    Psaki: It was a text chain they were on. Hard to imagine they didn’t remember those details. Did they lie to you?

    Heinrich: Yeah, they did lie to us. It’s hard to imagine for me that they didn’t all go over the text chain the night before. Or in the run up to even the morning, knowing that this was in the news already. So, it’s incredibly disappointing to see how cavalierly they misrepresented this. And obviously I hadn’t seen those parts of the text chain at that point. But I suspected, and what we would normally really be concerned about showing up outside of what we call the high side, the secure communications infrastructure that we use. Are these operational details? Because that is what can put service members at risk, and this is a case where real lives are on the line. There were intelligence details in these exchanges that may well have put peoples’ lives at risk.

    Psaki: Yeah, the General is making this point that they’re still at risk now. And this now gives the Houthis a better understanding of how these communications happen. 

    Heinrich: That’s exactly right. 

    On an expedited Inspector General investigation into the situation: 

    Psaki: Let me ask you: Senator Roger Wicker said today that the Senate Armed Services Committee is seeking an expedited IG investigation. He’s a Republican senator. We haven’t heard that from a lot of other Republican senators or any others that I’m aware of publicly at this point, but you talk to them privately. Do you think more could come out? Is there more who might call for that?

    Heinrich: I hope. I really hope more [Republican senators] do come out, because the private conversations are: People know this was wrong. People know that it was reckless. No one wants to defend this in the public. Even if you watch the Worldwide Annual Threat Assessment hearing in its totality, you didn’t hear Republicans coming to the defense of this kind of recklessness. We’ll just have to see. You know, there’s this palpable fear of saying anything critical of Team Trump. And to his credit, I think Roger Wicker did what anyone would normally do in this situation, which is just to say, “Let’s get to the bottom of it.”

    Psaki: That’s what IGs are supposed to do. Hence why it’s so problematic that a number of them were fired. Senator, thank you so much, and thank you for continuing to press on this issue. I know there’s many, many more questions out there. 

    Heinrich: We’re not done yet. 

    A recap of Tuesday’s hearing on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Min Introduce Legislation to Hold Special Government Employees Accountable, Prevent Them From Using Position for Financial Gain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Special Government Employees – Like Elon Musk – Have Personal Business Interests Intertwined with Official Government Work

    Bill Would Prevent Special Government Employees From Acting in Their Own Financial Interest

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Congressman Dave Min (D-CA) introduced the Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025, legislation that would create transparency and accountability for special government employees (SGE). Senator Luján and Congressman Min’s bill would ensure that certain SGEs are subject to public financial disclosures and would ensure they abide by the same ethics rules as federal employees after 130 days. 

    “Accountability is critical in government, that is why special government employees should be held to ethical standards that prevent them from using their position for their own financial gain,” said Senator Luján. “This legislation would boost transparency and accountability necessary to ensure special government employees don’t abuse their power. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Min on this important legislation to make certain that special government employees, like Elon Musk, are held to the highest ethical standards and don’t use their position to line their pockets.”

    “Elon Musk and DOGE are operating without any accountability or oversight, and that is unacceptable. This legislation would increase transparency, holding Musk and his cronies responsible to the American people,” said Rep. Min. “I am grateful to work with Senator Lujan on this necessary legislation. No one is above the law, and no one should be using the federal government for their personal gain.”

    An SGE is an officer or employee in the executive branch of the federal government who is appointed to perform limited, services to the government, with or without compensation, for a period not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. The Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025 would provide additional transparency and accountability regarding SGEs:

    1. 130-day limit: The bill would automatically convert any individual serving as an SGE to regular employee status after the individual has served 130 days in any 365-day period. 
    2. Public disclosures: The bill would require public release of the financial disclosure reports of all but the lowest-level SGEs.
    3. Public database: The bill would require the executive branch to maintain a public database of individuals serving with potentially problematic SGE designations.

    The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

    The legislation is supported by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), State Democracy Defenders Action, Public Citizen, and the Campaign Legal Center.

    Full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Trump Administration Gutting HHS by Cutting Nearly Quarter of Workforce, Abruptly Canceling Funding for New Mexico State Health Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Trump Administration Guts HHS by Eliminating Nearly 25% of Workforce, Cuts Over $12 Billion in Federal Grants to Fund Infectious Disease Management and Other Critical Health Services Nationwide Amid Measles Outbreak

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement in response to the announcement from the Trump administration that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is illegally gutting the agency including cutting nearly a quarter of its workforce and eliminating critical subagencies. This is in addition to yesterday’s announcement that more than $12 billion in federal grants to states to support tracking infectious diseases, mental health services, addiction treatment, and other critical health issues have been abruptly canceled.

    “Amid a nationwide measles outbreak, with bird flu spreading worldwide, and as a significant number of Americans face a substance use or mental health conditions, now is not the time to fire our nation’s health workers, ravage our nation’s top health agency, and cut critical resources that support state health services.

    “The Trump administration is blindly taking an axe to the agency responsible for our nation’s public health. When our nation should be working to boost public health, the Trump administration is firing thousands of dedicated health workers who respond to disease outbreaks, oversee scientific research, and strengthen public health. Eliminating nearly a quarter of HHS will not make Americans healthier.

    “Not only is the Trump administration dismantling HHS, but they are also abruptly canceling more than $12 billion in approved federal grants for state health services nationwide, which is a direct attack on our nation’s public health. As the New Mexico Department of Health combats a measles outbreak and fights the opioid crisis, these federal funds – which Congress approved – are meant to help them track infectious diseases, get New Mexicans the substance use support services they need, and boost our state’s public health.”

    These mass firings and abrupt cuts come as a total of 378 confirmed measles cases have been reported by 18 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. In New Mexico, a total of 43 cases have been reported in Lea and Eddy Counties, and one unvaccinated individual has died.

    Senator Luján has repeatedly demanded action from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to contain the measles outbreak. Secretary Kennedy has failed to respond.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Colleagues Press Energy Secretary on Firings and Suspensions in Nuclear Security Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Letter Text (PDF)
    Washington (March 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) led his colleagues Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) in writing today to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright about the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) cancellation of two Department of Energy (DOE) lab programs that support efforts to stop nuclear proliferation, following firings from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and DOGE access to DOE information systems.
    Today’s letter follows many of these lawmakers’ letter to Secretary Wright on February 20 regarding mass firings at the NNSA. The response from Teresa M. Robbins, Acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator at the NNSA on February 21, failed to address concerns about the broader impact on U.S. nuclear security and nonproliferation. Since then, DOGE has continued to act with little regard for the consequences of its decisions, canceling two DOE lab programs critical to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. Any one of these blunders would be alarming; taken together, they reflect a dangerous pattern of reckless behavior at the heart of America’s nuclear security enterprise.
    Today’s letter to Secretary Wright urges DOE to restore the necessary staff and programs and ensure that nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation remain a top priority.
    In the letter, the lawmakers write, “Regarding the cancelled lab programs, according to press, DOE suspended two programs (at national labs in Brookhaven, NY and Oak Ridge, TN) that provide U.S. financial aid to inspectors at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), undermining President Trump’s own goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his confirmation hearing in January that a nuclear-armed Iran ‘cannot be allowed under any circumstances.’ As a former director of the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory in New Mexico put it: ‘These are disastrous policies. They go against science and partnerships that lift a nation.’ We share these concerns and fear that the disruptions will scare away talented professionals from the field of nuclear nonproliferation and hinder the global fight against the spread of nuclear arms.”
    The lawmakers continue, “As in the case of the NNSA terminations, it is unclear whether DOE and DOGE officials understand key facts — here, the depth of the relationship between the United States and the IAEA. U.S. financial support helps the IAEA train its inspectors, who can go where U.S. government experts may not be welcome. IAEA inspectors have exposed Iran’s nuclear progress and helped prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear material. Additionally, the assistance helps place U.S. citizens in staff positions at the IAEA. According to Laura Holgate, a former U.S. ambassador to the IAEA: ‘These programs enhance U.S. security. This is not charity. It’s in our self-interest.’ DOE and DOGE need to understand this.”
    The lawmakers request answers by April 4, 2025, to questions including:
    Why did you initially deny the NNSA’s request for a national security exemption from the mass firings at the agency?
    Please explain the discrepancies in the number of fired NNSA employees, ranging from less than 50 to 177, to more than 300, and closer to 350. How many of the terminated NNSA employees declined to return? How has this impacted mission readiness?
    Why did DOE immediately reverse 150 of its purported 177 firings?
    We understand that approximately 30% of the NNSA employees initially terminated were from the Pantex Plant in Texas, the facility responsible for safely dismantling thousands of retired nuclear weapons. What measures were taken to assess the impact of these terminations on critical national security functions at this facility?
    Why did DOE and DOGE suspend the two programs at Brookhaven and Oak Ridge national labs that provide U.S. financial assistance to inspectors at the IAEA? When these programs were suspended, did you realize that they supported nonproliferation efforts?
    On February 20, Senators Markey, Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), wrote to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Wright about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) firing up to 350 staff members at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), jeopardizing the security of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, weakening our ability to detect and prevent threats to nuclear safety, and undermining U.S. nonproliferation commitments.
    On February 12, 2025, Senator Markey and Representative Don Beyer (VA-08) wrote to Secretary Wright regarding their concerns that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to DOE, which oversees the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the nation’s most sensitive nuclear weapons secrets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE removes Mexican fugitive wanted for family violence

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NOGALES — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Juan Jasso-Botello, a 44-year-old Mexican fugitive wanted in Mexico for family violence, March 25.

    ICE transported Jasso-Botello from the Florence Detention Center to the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, where he was transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities.

    “The removal of Juan Jasso demonstrates the collaborative, whole of government approach that ICE supports in protecting the citizens of the U.S.,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu. “Our dedicated officers and partners in law enforcement have worked tirelessly to ensure that such individuals are brought to justice and then removed from the United States.”

    Jasso-Botello illegally entered the United States Nov. 1, 2024, near Newfield and was arrested on Nov. 2, 2024.

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives, transnational gang members or other criminal aliens who are in the U.S. illegally are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    For more news and information on how ICE carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Arizona, follow us on X, @ERO__Phoenix.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Philadelphia removes illegal alien wanted for murder to Ecuador

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Luis Gerardo Pelaez Llivichuzca, a citizen of Ecuador with a final order of removal wanted by his home country for murder, to Ecuador on March 25.

    “The removal of Luis Gerardo Pelaez Llivichuzca reflects our stanch commitment to safeguarding public safety and enforcing the integrity of our immigration system,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “ICE remains resolute in its efforts to identify, apprehend, and remove individuals who pose a threat to our communities.

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Pelaez April 20, 2010, near Kots Kug, Arizona, for entering the United States without inspection or parole by an immigration official.

    The Border Patrol served Pelaez a notice and order of expedited removal on April 22, 2010, charging inadmissibility and transferred him to ICE at the Florence Service Processing Center in Florence, Arizona. ICE transferred Pelaez May 29, 2010, to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana, and removed him from the U.S. to Ecuador June 4, 2010.

    Pelaez then re-entered the U.S. on an unknown date and at an unknown location without inspection or parole by an immigration official.

    Authorities in Ecuador issued an arrest warrant for murder for Pelaez May 31, 2018.

    ICE arrested Pelaez during a targeted enforcement action in New York Feb. 11, and served him a notice of intent and decision to reinstate a prior order charging removability.

    ICE transferred Pelaez to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Feb. 12, where he remained pending removal proceedings.

    Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia communities on X: @EROPhiladelphia

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Dominican Republic: A Global Benchmark for Investment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WASHINGTON, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a global context marked by increasing economic uncertainty and market volatility, the Dominican Republic is consolidating itself as a global benchmark for foreign investment, especially for companies seeking new destinations from which to operate to reduce costs, mitigate risks, and strengthen the resilience of their supply chains.

    With a GDP growth of 5.0% in 2024, the highest in all Latin America and the Caribbean, the country remains one of the most dynamic, outperforming larger economies. For the coming years, this impressive dynamism is expected to continue, with IMF growth projections of 4.5% and 5.1% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, driven by solid political and social stability, a robust financial system, and favorable economic policies for business development. This extraordinary performance has also strengthened the confidence of international investors, reflected in the improvement of the country’s credit rating by major rating agencies such as S&P Global and Fitch Ratings.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    Thus, beyond its idyllic landscapes, the Dominican Republic has managed to establish itself as a key destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2024, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), FDI in the country increased by 7.1%, representing 41% of the capital flows captured by Central America.

    The Dominican Republic Industrial Tech revolution is no longer a secret – it’s a movement. This dynamic shift is not only transforming the country’s industrial landscape but is also positioning the Dominican Republic as a central hub for technological innovation, creating exciting opportunities for growth and international partnerships.

    Global companies continue to choose the Dominican Republic to relocate their operations in key sectors such as medical and pharmaceutical products, electrical and electronic devices, textile manufacturing, tobacco and its derivatives, jewelry, among others. Clearly, this outlook shows that nearshoring is not an emerging trend, but a reality in the country. We’ve seen how innovation, investment, and talent are transforming the nation into a powerhouse of technological advancement.

    Free Zones in the Dominican Republic: Engine of Economic Diversification and Nearshoring

    The growing interest in creating more resilient, sustainable, and closer supply chains to end consumer markets has made nearshoring a key competitive strategy for companies. In this context, the Dominican Republic, located just two hours by air and two days by sea from the United States, offers multiple competitive advantages:

    • Geographic proximity to the world’s largest consumer markets.
    • Legal security and clear, predictable rules of the game.
    • Top-level connectivity and logistics infrastructure, with 8 international airports, 18 seaports, 5 logistics centers, and 33 logistics operator companies. This infrastructure includes ports that have positioned themselves as important terminal operators, playing a strategic role in the sustainability of global supply chains.
    • Several Free Trade Agreements, including DR-CAFTA and EPA, which open the doors to more than 900 million potential consumers worldwide.
    • Competitive operational costs.

    These extraordinary advantages, combined with the attractive tax incentives offered by the Free Zones Regime, make the Dominican Republic an unbeatable investment destination for companies looking to relocate or expand their manufacturing operations.

    Free Zones, which have been successfully implemented for over half a century without modifications, have played a crucial role in the industrial and social development of the country, attracting the attention of global companies, including those on the Fortune 500 list, and consolidating themselves as a key pillar of the economy. Their main benefits include:

    • 100% tax exemptions on national and local taxes.
    • Access to a skilled and competitive workforce, with experience in advanced manufacturing processes.
    • Specialized training and development programs.
    • Simplified customs processes that streamline export logistics.
    • Competitive wage structures tailored to the Free Zones Regime.
    • Parks Operators which offer business services and solutions to facilitate the operations of Free Zones companies.

    Clearly, this is an exceptional regime for companies interested in developing operations with certainty and predictability, strengthening their supply chains, and successfully navigating disruptions and changes in the global environment.

    About the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSME’s (MICM)
    MICM is the government agency responsible for the formulation, adoption, monitoring, evaluation, and control of policies in the fields of industry, exports, foreign trade, free zones, special regimes, and SMEs.

    Contact Information

    Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSME’s (MICM)
    Vice Ministry of Free Zones and Special Regimes
    (1) 809-685-5171 ext. 1017
    www.micm.gob.do

    For more information, visit:
    www.drfreezones.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Signal-gate security blunder overshadows Black Sea ceasefire

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    Depending on what you think of Donald Trump, his administration could fit either of the following two descriptions. Chaotic, vindictive and accident-prone, marked by mendacity, driven by impulse and bent on securing the will of the leader, rather than – as in the US constitution – the will of the people. Or it could be a government masterminded by a man playing 4D chess while all around him are playing chequers. A president whose deal-making skills and focus on outcomes ensure the security and prosperity of America and its allies.

    If you base your assessment on the people Trump has chosen as his key national security advisers then, after the recent Signal chat group intelligence debacle, you’d almost certainly opt for chaotic and accident-prone, at the very least.

    Looking around the Signal chatroom, who do we have? National security advisor Mike Waltz, Vice-President J.D. Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA director John Ratcliffe and a supporting cast of other senior Trump staffers. And, unwittingly, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg.

    Heads must roll, say Trump’s critics. But who from this hydra-headed beast should take the fall? Should it be Waltz, who invited Goldberg to the chat group? Or Hegseth, who posted operational details of a US attack, including the when, where and how, hours before it was due to take place? Should it be Vance, whose swipe at America’s freeloading European allies has caused considerable angst across the Atlantic?

    Or perhaps one or another of Gabbard and Ratcliffe, who sat in front of the Senate select committee on intelligence on Tuesday and maintained that no classified material or “war plans” had been revealed to the group – sworn evidence now revealed to be unreliable at best?

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    At present it seems as if none of them are going to pay for their dangerous incompetence. Instead their ire is turned on Goldberg, who has variously been called a “sleazebag” by Trump himself, “loser” and the “bottom scum of journalists” by Waltz and a “deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who’s made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again” by Hegseth.

    Robert Dover of the University of Hull, whose research centres on intelligence and national security, believes this is a “national security blunder almost without parallel”. He points to the hypocrisy of people like Hegseth who savaged Hillary Clinton for using a private email server to conduct official business when she was secretary of state under Barack Obama.

    Dover also notes the damage the episode will have done to America’s already shaky relations with its allies in Europe. Being disparaged by the vice-president as freeloaders and dismissed by the defense secretary as “pathetic”, he believes, will be “difficult to unsee”.



    Read more:
    Signal chat group affair: unprecedented security breach will seriously damage US international relations

    But credit where it’s due, it appears that US diplomacy may at least be bearing some – limited – fruit. At least, that is, if the two partial ceasefires recently negotiated between Russia and Ukraine actually materialise. That’s a fairly big if, of course. Despite a pledge by both sides that they could support a deal to avoid targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, there’s no sign yet of a cessation of attacks.

    And there has been a degree of scepticism over the recently announced plan for a maritime ceasefire to allow the free passage of shipping on the Black Sea. Critics say this favours Russia far more than Ukraine. Over the course of the war, Ukraine has successfully driven Russia’s Black Sea fleet away from its base in Crimea, giving it the upper hand in the maritime war. But maritime strategy expert, Basil Germond, says the situation is more nuanced, and the deal represents considerable upside for Ukraine as well.



    Read more:
    Russia has most to gain from Black Sea ceasefire – but it’s marginal, and Ukraine benefits too

    Setting aside America’s eventful recent forays into foreign relations, there’s a major domestic fix brewing which many US legal scholars believe could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.

    Anne Richardson Oakes, an expert in US constitutional law at Birmingham City University, anticipates a potential clash between between the executive and the judiciary which could threaten the separation of powers that lies at the heart of American democracy.

    Oakes observes there are more than 130 legal challenges to Trump administration policies presently before the courts, some of which will end up in front of America’s highest legal authority, the Supreme Court, which is tasked with assessing the constitutionality of those policies. She warns that we’ve already seen evidence that Trump and his senior officials resent what they consider to be interference from the judiciary into the legitimate executive power of the elected president.

    Will there be a stand-off where the Trump administration simply ignores the Supreme Court’s ruling? It’s happened before, says Oakes. In the mid-20th century, in Little Rock, Arkansas, when the governor used the state’s national guard to prevent the court-ordered desegregation of public schools. On that occasion the then president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, sent in federal troops to enforce the court’s ruling and a constitutional crisis was averted.



    Read more:
    US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system

    But what if it’s the serving president who chooses to ignore a Supreme Court ruling? This was the case in the 1830s when greedy cotton farmers in Georgia were bent on forcing the Native American peoples off their lands. The Cherokee actually took the state of Georgia to the Supreme Court, which ruled that as a “dependent nation” within the United States they were entitled to the protection of the federal government and that the state of Georgia had no right to order their removal.

    As historian Sean Lang of Anglia Ruskin University recounts, Georgia ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling and sent in troops to expel the Cherokee who were then forced to move to new lands in a journey known as the “Train of Tears”. Lang writes that then US president, Andrew Jackson, a populist advocate of states’ rights and former “Indian fighter”, ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling, “sneering that [Chief Justice John] Marshall had no means of enforcing it”.

    Lang concludes: “It’s a history lesson Greenlanders, Mexicans and Canadians – and indeed many Americans who may fall foul of this administration and seek recourse to the law – would do well to study.”



    Read more:
    Trump’s America is facing an Andrew Jackson moment – and it’s bad news for the constitution

    Trump’s chilling effect

    The Trump administration’s antipathy towards judges who have opposed its policies have extended towards those law firms who have in some way crossed the US president. But the legal system is not the only sector to feel the chilling effect of Trump’s displeasure, writes Dafydd Townley.

    The world of higher education in the US is also apprehensive after the administration went after Columbia University, home to some of the most outspoken protest over US policies towards Israel and Gaza. Columbia has recently had to agree to allow the administration to “review” some of its academic programmes, starting with its Middle Eastern studies, after the administration threatened to cancel US$400 million (£310 million) of government contracts with the university.

    The news media is also under heavy pressure. The administration has taken control of the White House press pool from the non-partisan White House Correspondents’ Association and has blackballed Associated Press for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. We’ve also seen Trump himself bring lawsuits against media organisations he judges to have crossed him. And now the president has called for the defunding of America’s two biggest public broadcasters, NPR and PBL, for what he perceives as their liberal bias.

    Townley, an expert in US politics at the University of Portsmouth is concerned that this all adds up to a deliberate attempt to cripple institutions which underwrite American democracy.



    Read more:
    Donald Trump’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech and dissent is threatening US democracy

    Popularity falls as prices rise

    Trump’s leadership continues to be very polarising, writes Paul Whiteley, a political scientist and polling specialist at the University of Essex, who has spent years studying political trends in the US. Looking at the most recent numbers, Whiteley finds that while Trump’s approval ratings are fairly steady at 48% approval and 49% disapproval, when you dig down you find that only 6% of registered Democrats approve of his performance, while 93% disapprove. For registered Republicans it’s almost exactly the opposite.

    Whiteley takes his analysis further, looking at measures such as consumer sentiment, which has fallen sharply since January, with talk of tariffs and the return of inflation affecting people’s confidence in the economy. He points out there tends to be a fairly strong historical correlation between confidence in the economy and popular approval of a president’s performance.



    Read more:
    Three graphs that show what’s happening with Donald Trump’s popularity

    Another factor which will surely affect people’s confidence in the government are the job losses flowing from Elon Musk’s work as “efficiency tsar”. Thomas Gift, the director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London, believes that federal job losses as a result of Musk’s cuts are spread indiscriminately among Democrat and Republican states. As a result there may be some Republican voters who are experiencing what he calls “buyer’s remorse”.

    At the same time, rising inflation is flowing into the cost of living, something many people voted for Trump to punish the Democrats for. As Gift points out, both parties are experiencing a dip in support at present as people reject politics for having a generally negative effect on their lives. But from now, it’ll be the Republicans who will feel the sting of popular disapproval more keenly.



    Read more:
    Trump’s job cuts are causing Republican angst as all parties face backlash

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Signal-gate security blunder overshadows Black Sea ceasefire – https://theconversation.com/signal-gate-security-blunder-overshadows-black-sea-ceasefire-253245

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Fifth Committee Fill Vacancies on Contribution, Audit Committees

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today sent the General Assembly the names of three candidates to fill two vacancies on the Committee on Contributions and one vacancy on the Independent Audit Advisory Committee.

    Committee on Contributions

    For the 18-member Committee on Contributions, which advises the Assembly on the distribution of the Organization’s expenses among Member States, delegates delivered the names of Benjamin Sieberns (Germany) and Fu Liheng (China) to fill vacancies created by the resignations of Michael Holtsch (Germany), effective 7 March, and Lin Shan (China), effective 18 March, respectively. 

    Both candidates would serve for the remaining period of each office, which expires 31 December 2026.

    Independent Audit Advisory Committee

    After a single round of balloting, the Independent Audit Advisory Committee recommended Eric Oduro Osae (Ghana) to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Imran Vanker (South Africa).  Mr. Osae received 89 votes after 155 valid votes were cast.  He will serve for the remaining period of that office, which expires on 31 December 2026.  The Committee serves in an expert advisory capacity and helps the Assembly fulfil its oversight responsibilities.

    Before closing the meeting, Fifth Committee Chair Egriselda Aracely González López (El Salvador) thanked delegates for their work over the past several weeks and urged them to return to the negotiating rooms with “a constructive spirit and an open spirit” to conclude the Committee’s work by the end of the first resumed session on Friday, 28 March.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stamford Man Indicted for Defrauding Mars, Inc. out of Millions of Dollars

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a nine-count indictment charging PAUL R. STEED, 58, of Stamford, with fraud and tax offenses stemming from his alleged commission of multiple frauds against his former employer Mars, Inc.

    The indictment was returned yesterday, and Steed was arrested this morning.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, pleaded not guilty, and is currently detained.

    The indictment alleges that, between approximately 2011 and 2023, Steed was employed by Mars Wrigley, a subsidiary of Mars. Inc. (“Mars”), working remotely from his home in Stamford.  Steed served as Global Price Risk Manager for Mars Wrigley’s Global Cocoa Enterprise.  As part of his employment, Steed was responsible for managing Mars Wrigley’s participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Sugar-Containing Products Re-Export Program.  In approximately 2016, Steed created a company, MCNA LLC, to mimic an actual Mars entity, Mars Chocolate North America.  He then diverted millions of dollars in Mars assets to a bank account he set up in MCNA’s name by directing sugar refineries purchasing Mars’s re-export credits, obtained through the USDA program, to pay MCNA LLC as if it were a legitimate Mars entity.

    The indictment also alleges that Mars had an ownership interest in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”), a financial services company that operated financial exchanges and clearing houses, and received quarterly dividends in connection with that ownership.  In 2017, Steed directed Computershare Limited (“Computershare”), a company that ICE utilized for stock-related services, to pay MCNA LLC for Mars’s dividends from its ownership shares in ICE.  As a result, more than $700,000 in dividend payments were diverted to the MCNA LLC account.  In 2023, after Steed had used a fraudulent letter purportedly from the Mars Treasurer authorizing him to trade ICE shares, Steed directed Computershare to sell Mars’s ICE shares entirely.  Computershare issued a check in the amount of more than $11.3 million, which Steed deposited into the MCNA LLC account.

    The indictment further alleges that, from 2013 through 2020, Steed used a company he owned called Ibera LLC to invoice Mars for services Mars did not receive.  Mars paid Ibera LLC approximately $580,000 through this scheme.

    The indictment charges Steed with seven counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment on each count.  Steed is also charged with two counts of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count, for failing to report and pay taxes on his stolen income, as alleged.

    According to statements made in court, Steed is alleged to have stolen more than $28 million from Mars and through his schemes.  More than $18 million was seized today for forfeiture, and the government is seeking to forfeit a Greenwich home that Steed is alleged to have purchased with nearly $2.3 million in stolen funds.  It is alleged that another $2 million was sent by Steed to Argentina, where he is a dual citizen, has family ties, and owns a ranch.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ecuadorian National Indicted For Attempting To Smuggle Firearms Out Of The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Karla Alejandra Tejena Parraga (38, Ecuador) with attempted smuggling of firearms. If convicted, Tejena Parraga faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, on February 19, 2025, Tejena Parraga fraudulently attempted to export a firearm and firearm part from the United States to Panama. Prior to the attempted exportation, Tejena Parraga concealed, received, bought or sold, or facilitated such, knowing the firearm and firearm part was intended for exportation contrary to any law or regulation of the United States. 

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie McNeff.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican national extradited from Mexico to the United States pleads guilty to drug and money laundering conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gilberto Alarcon-Holguin a/k/a Beto, 57, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.

    According to the plea agreement, on October 14, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized 10 kilograms of cocaine from an identified co-conspirator. HSI obtained a phone number as a point of contact for the delivery of the cocaine, which was linked to co-conspirators of Alarcon-Holguin. On October 19, 2017, HSI conducted a controlled delivery of 10 bricks of “sham” cocaine, which had been wrapped in the same manner as the seized kilograms of cocaine, to a motel parking lot in Corfu, NY. The bag was given to co-conspirator Eduardo Valdez, who was on the phone with Alarcon-Holguin during the delivery. Following the controlled delivery, the New York State Police conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Valdez was riding in. HSI seized $259,960 in cash as a result of the controlled delivery.

    Subsequent investigation determined that Alarcon-Holguin had multiple communications with another co-conspirator, Edgar Pavia. Alarcon-Holguin provided instructions to Pavia about shipments of cocaine, packaging of money, and more, all of which was passed along to drug distributors supplied by Alarcon-Holguin in cities including Buffalo, and Louisville, KY. Alarcon-Holguin also passed information to Pavia that was separately conveyed to other co-conspirators, including those involved in the transportation of drugs. For example, on June 21, 2018, co-conspirator Adrian Goudelock received 40 kilograms of cocaine in Buffalo. Over the course of the conspiracy, Goudelock received multiple shipments of 10 kilograms of cocaine or more brokered by Pavia and supplied by Alarcon-Holguin. Alarcon-Holguin also provided instructions to Pavia on how Goudelock should wrap and mark money being sent back to Mexico. Specifically, Alarcon-Holguin told Pavia that Goudelock should wrap the money into 52 packages of $10,000 each.

    Other deliveries organized by Alarcon-Holguin during the investigation included: 17 kilograms of cocaine seized from a co-conspirator in West Seneca, NY, and shipments of 10, 15, 20, and 40 kilograms of cocaine to a co-conspirator in Kentucky. In addition, approximately $1,144,735 in cash was seized from a commercial truck driver in Chicago, Illinois. During the course of the investigation, investigators seized approximately $2,600,000.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; and Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations. Additional assistance was provided by the New York National Guard and Homeland Security Investigations, El Paso, Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Alarcon-Holguin.    

    Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2025, before Judge Sinatra.

    # # # #

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Houston removes Guatemalan fugitive wanted for criminal impersonation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Kevin Estuardo Escobar Chanas, a 27-year-old foreign fugitive wanted for criminal impersonation in Guatemala, from the United States March 26.

    Escobar was flown from Alexandria, Louisiana, on a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit to La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala. He was turned over to Guatemalan law enforcement authorities upon arrival.

    “The successful identification and removal of this foreign fugitive is another reminder of how important it is for state and local law enforcement to work together with ICE,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret A. Bradford. “Without the strength of those partnerships that we have here in Texas, this foreign fugitive would still be out in the community threatening public safety, and his alleged victims in Guatemala would continue to be deprived of the justice they deserve.”

    Escobar illegally entered the U.S. Dec. 24, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas. He was immediately apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol and released on his own recognizance Dec. 25, 2023. ICE encountered Escobar Oct. 27, 2024, at the Harris County Jail following his arrest for assault causing bodily injury and lodged an immigration detainer with the jail. Escobar was released into ICE custody Jan. 25 following the completion of his prison sentence for assault and was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. An immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered Escobar removed to Guatemala Feb. 25.

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    For more news and information on how the ERO Houston field office carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Southeast Texas follow us on X at @EROHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests Brazilian alien charged with assault, battery in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present Brazilian alien charged with assault and battery on a family member when officers arrested Weliton Pires-Dos Santos, 39, in Framingham Jan. 26.

    “Weliton Pires-Dos Santos illegally came to this country and refused to abide by our laws,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Pires victimized a member family and presents a threat to the residents of our Massachusetts communities. ICE stands committed to prioritizing the safety of our public by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our New England neighborhoods.”

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Pires Nov. 30, 2021, after he illegally entered the United States near San Luis, Arizona. The Border Patrol served Pires with a notice to appear and released him on his own recognizance.

    Officers from the Framingham Police Department arrested Pires Nov. 20, 2023, for assault and battery on a family member.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Pires later that day with the Framingham Police Department, which refused to honor the detainer and released Pires from custody.

    Pires remains in ICE custody following his arrest.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 23 Members of Congress Call on Teleperformance to Respect Labor Rights

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    OPEIU and CWA Applaud Call for FCC to Hold Teleperformance Accountable

    Washington, D.C. — Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and 21 other members of Congress called on the Federal Communications Commission to closely scrutinize Teleperformance/ZP Better Together’s application for certification to provide Video Relay Service, an essential program that ensures Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing people have equal access to telecommunications services. VRS is funded through the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, which all Americans pay into through their phone bills.

    “We’ve spent the last year organizing with our fellow interpreters to ensure VRS is the service that it needs to be, not a vehicle for corporate profits,” said Felix Reyes, a Teleperformance VRS interpreter from New York City. “The Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing communities deserve interpreters who are adequately trained, have reasonable breaks and meaningful professional development opportunities, including from working with Deaf interpreters. We applaud Rep. Schakowsky and her colleagues for calling on the FCC to hold them accountable.”

    In the letter, members of Congress pointed out Teleperformance could work to allay their concerns about the deterioration of service quality in VRS by implementing the labor rights accord that Teleperformance signed with UNI, a global federation of labor unions, in the United States. The labor rights accord has already been implemented in Poland, Colombia, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Romania.

    “We are organizing VRS interpreters at Teleperformance and Sorenson because workers need a voice on the job now more than ever—for themselves and for the people they serve,” said Tyler Turner, president of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO. “For too long, a profit over people model has wreaked havoc on VRS interpreters’ working conditions and the vital service they provide to millions of Deaf Americans every day. OPEIU will not stop fighting until these workers get the justice they deserve. The 90,000 members of our union thank these members of Congress for taking a courageous stand on behalf of our members and the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing communities.”

    “Members of Congress have reason to be concerned about the impact of poor working conditions and low wages on the quality of Video Relay Service, especially in light of Teleperformance’s recent acquisition of ZP Better Together,” said Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America. “VRS interpreters provide critical services to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and public funds should be used to invest in the workers who provide the service, not to boost corporate profits. By implementing the UNI workers’ rights framework, Teleperformance will gain valuable insight from front-line workers into how to retain workers and improve service.”

    Last month, a separate letter by Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) spurred FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez to agree to participate in upcoming town halls to hear from ASL interpreters and the people they serve — the first time an FCC commissioner has agreed to host public meetings on the subject. OPEIU’s ASL Interpreters United includes VRS interpreters working at both Sorenson and ZP Better Together. Sorenson is owned by private equity firms Ariel Investments and The Blackstone Group, and ZP Better Together is owned by French telecommunications company Teleperformance.

    ###

    ABOUT OPEIU
    The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, represents approximately 90,000 working people throughout the United States and Canada. Representing employees in nonprofit organizations, technology, hospitals, hotels, credit unions, insurance agencies, colleges and universities, administrative offices, and more, OPEIU is committed to advancing economic justice for working people no matter their occupation. Professional organizations and guilds affiliated with OPEIU are a diverse group that includes podiatrists, teachers, registered nurses and helicopter pilots. OPEIU is an affiliate of the 15 million-member-strong AFL-CIO.

    ABOUT CWA
    The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The world is in crisis – what role should our universities play?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vinita Srivastava, Host + Exec. Producer, Don’t Call Me Resilient | Senior Editor, Culture + Society

    It’s hard not to categorize our present global moment as a crisis. And just when we think things can’t get worse — they do.

    Across the globe, we’re witnessing a rise in far-right movements and governments.

    Just a few weeks ago, the AfD party in Germany secured second place. This marks the first time a far-right party has gained this level of power in the country since the Second World War. Germany is not alone in this trend: Italy, Hungary, Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Croatia are now led by far-right governments.

    And it may come as no surprise that many of these new leaders are increasingly hostile towards universities.

    In India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, universities have the lowest academic freedom since the 1940s. In Brazil, former president Jair Bolsonaro claimed that public universities transform students into leftists, gays, drug addicts and perverts.

    Meanwhile in the United States, Vice President JD Vance has called universities the enemy for allegedly teaching that America is “an evil, racist nation.” (Vance was echoing President Richard Nixon who called professors and the press the enemy. President Donald Trump even signed an executive order demanding higher education institutions dismantle their DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs. He’s also pulled federal funding from universities that allow “illegal protests”, and he’s demanded that Columbia University’s Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Departments be independently reviewed.

    But, despite this hostility, universities — and students — have historically been springboards for progressive change. It was student protests 25 years ago that helped lead to the downfall of apartheid in South Africa. More recently, in Bangladesh, student protests helped topple the country’s authoritarian leader. This past year, students across the world have worked to raise public awareness of acts of genocide in Gaza.

    Meanwhile, here in Canada, universities are facing financial pressure because of reductions in international student permits. This drop in revenue has caused alarming budget constraints at universities, revealing a deep reliance on international students as a revenue source.

    This has led to existential questions about our universities. With today’s world in crisis, what should the role of the university be? And why are our public universities so underfunded? And how can they continue to serve their communities?

    Theses are big questions, ones that seemed fitting to tackle on our final episode of Don’t Call Me Resilient recorded live in front of an audience at the University of British Columbia. Joining us to tackle them was Annette Henry, a professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at UBC who is cross-appointed to the Institute for Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice. Her work examines race, class, language, gender and culture in education for Black students and educators in Canada.

    We also spoke with Michelle Stack, an associate professor in UBC’s Department of Educational Studies whose work looks at educational policy, university rankings and equity and education.

    At a time when critical conversations in higher education are under attack worldwide, can Canadian universities rise to the challenge and be a force for good?

    Read more:

    Universities should stand up for integrity and public trust in university teaching

    How Commonwealth universities profited from Indigenous dispossession through land grants

    Universities should respond to cuts and corporate influence with co-operative governance

    Cops on campus: Why police crackdowns on student protesters are so dangerous

    Student protests: How the university perpetuates colonial violence on campus

    This episode was coproduced by Ateqah Khaki (associate producer), Marisa Sittheeamorn (student journalist) and Jennifer Moroz (consulting producer). Our sound engineer was Alain Derbez, with onsite assistance from Josh Mattson. Thank you to UBC’s Global Journalism Innovation Lab and its crew, The UBC School of Journalism and the Social Science Research Council of Canada for their generous support.

    – ref. The world is in crisis – what role should our universities play? – https://theconversation.com/the-world-is-in-crisis-what-role-should-our-universities-play-250235

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU pledges €3.4 billion to combat global malnutrition

    Source: European Union 2

    Today, at the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris, the European Commission announced a new pledge of €3.4 billion until 2027 to combat malnutrition globally. This commitment builds on the EU’s ongoing efforts to reduce all forms of malnutrition and drive progress in nutrition-related interventions worldwide.

    The EU’s investment will focus on supporting partner countries facing high levels of child malnutrition, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will target children under five and young pregnant and lactating mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The support will be tailored to address the specific needs of each country, with a strong emphasis on the most vulnerable populations in least developed and fragile settings.

    The EU’s engagement will also continue at global and regional levels, where the EU is successfully promoting initiatives to strengthen nutrition governance and international collaboration on research and development.

    Today’s pledge follows the EU’s previous commitment of €2.5 billion for 2021-2023, announced at the N4G Summit in Tokyo. The EU even exceeded its initial pledge by nearly €1.9 billion, ultimately contributing a total of €4.4 billion for 2021-2023.

    To maximise its impact, the EU invests through its Global Gateway strategy in essential infrastructure, improving access to public services, supporting local agri-food value chains, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

    Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, said: “Since the first Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013, the EU has turned bold pledges into bold action, leading the fight against malnutrition. Today’s pledge is a renewed testament to our unwavering commitment to ensure better nutrition for mothers and children, stronger food systems, and better health and social protection where they are needed most. The European Union will continue to lead by example, leaving no one behind. We will work with partners to move closer to a world where every child wakes up nourished, grows strong, and dreams without limits.”

    Background

    The European Union supports global, regional, and country-level initiatives that strengthen nutrition governance, foster international collaboration on data, and advance nutrition research and technology development. Additionally, the EU provides humanitarian assistance to address severe acute malnutrition, delivering life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children in remote, fragile or country-affected areas.

    By integrating nutrition into its programming, the EU reinforces the link between humanitarian and development actions, recognising that multi-sectoral approaches are essential to tackle the root causes of malnutrition.

    Results on the ground are promising: EU investments have significantly improved maternal and child nutrition, with partner countries on track to reduce the number of stunted children under five by at least 7 million by 2025.

    The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summits have been instrumental in accelerating progress towards a malnutrition-free world. Since 2013, host countries, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and now France, have leveraged these global events to mobilise commitments and coordinate efforts with governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector, yielding impactful results and improved global nutrition outcomes.

    Further information

    2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit 

    Many Pieces, One Goal – A Team Europe Compendium of External Nutrition Action

    EU Action plan on nutrition – 8th progress report

    Nutrition – humanitarian aid

    Council Conclusions on stepping up Team Europe’s support to global food security and nutrition

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Development Bank and Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz sign Loan Agreement for Electricity Distribution Infrastructure Modernization Project

    Source: New Development Bank

    On March 21, 2025, New Development Bank (NDB) and Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz (CPFL Paulista) signed a Loan Agreement for the Electricity Distribution Infrastructure Modernization Project to be implemented in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

    The Loan Agreement amounting to RMB 1,425 million  was signed at the NDB Headquarters in Shanghai, China by H.E. Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, NDB President, Mr. Vladimir Kazbekov, NDB Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Gustavo Estrella, Chief Executive Officer at CPFL Energia, Ms. Wang Kedi, Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer at CPFL Energia, Mr. Tiago da Costa Parreira, Corporate Finance Director (CPFL Paulista) and Mr. Flávio de Paula, Capital Market Manager (CPFL Paulista).

    The Project represents growing collaboration between NDB’s member countries, and this Loan demonstrates NDB’s commitment to expanding non-sovereign and local currency operations as well as increasing cross border use of its member countries’ currencies, as enshrined in NDB’s General Strategy.

    The implementation of the Project will help CPFL Paulista to expand and upgrade the power distribution infrastructure, achieve efficiency gains and provide access to electricity to new households and thereby contribute to the goal of providing universal access to electricity in Brazil.

    The Project will promote economic and social development through new grid connections. It is expected that the Project will provide electricity to over 370,000 future homes and business in the State of São Paulo in the coming years. Moreover, by reducing technical losses in the electricity distribution grid, the Project will improve energy efficiency and lead to economic savings for the end-users of energy.

    The Project will contribute primarily towards UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

    “This project strengthens Brazil’s energy infrastructure and benefits millions of Brazilians. Supporting initiatives like this is at the core of our mission, as reliable energy is essential for both economic and social development. This investment will help meet the growing electricity demand driven by urban expansion, reduce grid losses, and contribute to lower emissions,” said Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, NDB President.

    “CPFL has become the first Chinese-funded company in Brazil to receive credit support from the New Development Bank. This project will support the upgrading and transformation of the power distribution system in the concession area, serve the local economic and social development and improve people’s livelihood. Looking forward to the future, we hope to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the New Development Bank at all levels through multiple channels and in various forms, to continue to explore bank-enterprise cooperation opportunities,” said Mr. Yu Lei, President of State Grid International Development Limited (SGID).

    “This financing marks CPFL’s first RMB transaction. This relationship with the Bank has been developed over time, with the aim of diversifying funding sources and strengthening the company’s presence in the global market. This is expected to be the first of many transactions, considering that the CPFL Group has a robust investment plan for the next five years, estimated at approximately BRL 30 billion,” said Mr. Gustavo Estrella, Chief Executive Officer at CPFL Energia.

    Background information

    New Development Bank

    NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development.

    For more information on NDB, please visit www.ndb.int

    Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz

    For more information on Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz, please visit www.grupocpfl.com.br/unidades-de-negocios/cpfl-paulista

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Expands Cross-Chain Swap Support to 27 Networks, Among the Most in the Industry

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has expanded its cross-chain trading functionality to support 27 blockchains, including newly added ecosystems such as Berachain and Sonic. This enhancement solidifies Bitget Wallet’s position at the forefront of the industry, offering users unparalleled access to a diverse range of blockchain networks without the need to switch wallets or perform manual bridging.

    The expansion enables users to seamlessly swap mainstream native tokens like ETH, SOL and BNB for emerging ecosystem tokens such as BERA and SONIC with a single click. This streamlined process simplifies participation in activities like mining and staking within these new ecosystems. Bitget Wallet also supports gasless transactions via its GetGas feature, allowing users to complete cross-chain swaps, even without native tokens on the destination chain—removing one of the most common pain points for everyday users. Additionally, Bitget Wallet provides real-time market charts and onchain data, empowering users to make informed trading decisions.

    Currently, Bitget Wallet supports cross-chain swaps across 27 major networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB, TON, Base, Berachain, Sonic, Arbitrum, Avalanche, TRON, Polygon, Optimism, Aptos, Morph, Linea, Manta, zkSync, Ripple, Sui, Near, Polkadot, Dogecoin, Hyperliquid, Scroll, Merlin and opBNB. This extensive network support enhances market access and liquidity, allowing assets to move freely across different blockchain networks.

    “Our mission is to make cross-chain access seamless for everyone, whether you’re entering a major Layer 1 or exploring the next breakout ecosystem,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “By supporting cross-chain swaps across 27 blockchains and continuing to expand, we’re positioning Bitget Wallet as the go-to platform for frictionless multi-chain interaction. We’re excited to see users join next-gen networks with confidence.”

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81a6d490-c999-48de-ab24-8f250cfcb72b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Combined Drug Operation Seizes Six Tons of Cocaine in Gulf of Guinea

    Source: United States AFRICOM

    Gallery contains 2 images

    Photo 1 of 2

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    In a significant joint operation, the French Navy seized over six tons of cocaine from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Guinea on Saturday, March 15. The operation, which highlights the effective collaboration among the French Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) underscores ongoing efforts to combat transnational organized crime in the region. Information was coordinated and deconflicted by the Maritime Analysis Operations Center Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon, Portugal.

    The French Navy, while conducting routine patrols as part of Operation Corymbe, intercepted a fishing vessel approximately twenty meters long, flagged in Guyana. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 6,386 kg of cocaine with an estimated market value of nearly €371 million. The seized narcotics were subsequently transferred to the French naval ship for destruction in accordance with directives from the Brest prosecutor’s office.

    “This remarkable seizure underscores the collaborative efforts among international partners to combat drug trafficking and enhance maritime security,” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, U.S. Africa Command deputy commander. “The steadfast commitment of our allies, including the French Navy and other U.S. agencies, reflects our collective determination to safeguard our borders and disrupt the operations of organized crime syndicates.”

    The maritime prefecture noted that the operation demonstrates the effectiveness of French naval actions in safeguarding external borders and tackling organized crime. The six individuals found aboard the vessel comprised a Colombian, a Dominican, and four citizens of Guyana, all of whom were arrest-ed during the operation.

    In a statement released on Sunday, the Government of Guyana expressed its support for the French operation, affirming its commitment to international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and other forms of transnational crime. The statement also confirmed that authorization had been granted for the French forces to board the vessel.

    This successful mission not only signifies a significant blow to drug trafficking networks but also rein-forces the importance of international collaboration in enhancing regional security across the Gulf of Guinea. U.S. Africa Command remains dedicated to supporting such initiatives and fostering partner-ships aimed at stabilizing the region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Gate Technology Ltd Rebrands to Gate.io in Europe

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PANAMA CITY, Panama, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gate Technology Ltd ( the “Company”), previously operating as Gate.MT has officially announced the rebranding from Gate.MT name to Gate.io. This change reflects the Company’s commitment to strengthening its presence across Europe and aligning its operations with the globally recognized Gate.io brand.

    Since 2022, Gate Technology Ltd has been serving its clients in Europe through its VFA Class 4 license obtained from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). In Italy, the Company operates through its subsidiary, which registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) with the Organismo Agenti e Mediatori (OAM) in 2024. Both entities will continue providing services to their clients under the new Gate.io branding.

    The rebranding aims to leverage the strength of the Gate.io name, widely recognized as one of the largest crypto exchanges globally, used by over 22 million clients worldwide. This shift is part of a broader strategy to enhance the Company’s brand presence in Europe and continue its commitment to delivering top-tier cryptocurrency exchange and custody services.

    ​​The Company emphasized that the rebranding is not just a name changing. It is part of a broader effort to improve service offerings for European clients and ensure a secure, user-friendly experience while remaining compliant with local crypto regulations.

    Looking ahead, The Company plans to expand its regulated operations across Europe, with ambitions to reach the full coverage of all its nations in a regulated manner. The Company will make further announcements in the coming months regarding the scope and timeline of its expansion.

    Giovanni Cunti, CEO of Gate Technology Ltd, expressed his gratitude to clients for their continued trust and support, reassuring them that the Company is committed to maintaining its leadership position in the European cryptocurrency space and continuing to serve its growing client base.

    Disclaimer
    This document is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The rebranding referred to herein relates to Gate Technology Ltd and its operations in Europe.
    Gate Technology Italia SRL, limited liability company incorporated in Italy with company registration number 13347630967. Gate Technology Italia SRL is licensed by the OAM to operate as virtual currency operators, registry number PSV150.
    Any services mentioned in this communication are provided only in accordance with applicable regulatory permissions in the respective jurisdictions.

    Media Contact:
    Elaine Wang
    elaine.w@gate.io

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Gate.io. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38b93ebc-5308-47cd-ab21-f02887735e03

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anne Richardson Oakes, Associate Professor and Director: Centre for American Legal Studies, Birmingham City University

    As the 19th-century French political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville, memorably observed, Americans have a tendency to fight their political battles in court. Barely two months into his presidency, Donald Trump is demonstrating increasing frustration as trade unions, civil rights organisations and states attorneys general challenge the implementation of his policies with lawsuits alleging presidential overreach that undermines the constitutional separation of powers.

    More than 130 lawsuits are now pending. As a result, federal courts have put on hold key policies of the Trump administration and Trump lawyers have lodged emergency petitions invoking Supreme Court intervention.

    First to face court check was the federal funding freeze order. This was swiftly followed by court rulings against the birthright citizenship order. This controversial measure would withdraw citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or non-citizen parents who are in the country legally but temporarily.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    Another court ruling has overturned the Pentagon’s ban on transgender people enlisting in the US armed forces. Yet another has blocked the Department of Government Efficiency’s (Doge’s) access to treasury department records containing the personal financial details of millions of Americans.

    This was blocked for the very fundamental grounds that this has not been authorised by Congress and is not within the scope of the presidential power. Whether Doge can even exist without Congressional authority is also in contention.

    The president’s increasing anger with the courts erupted on March 18. The US president launched an astonishing personal attack on a US federal judge who ruled against the summary deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and ordered the administration to turn around the plane carrying them that had already taken off.

    The US president calls for a judge to be impeached.
    TruthSocial.

    Trump’s call for Judge James Boasberg to be impeached prompted a rare intervention from Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts. Roberts condemned the impeachment call in a statement that did not name the president but was clearly intended as a rebuke and a reminder of the constitutional boundaries that guarantee the role of the judiciary as the equal third branch of government.

    Unrepentant, Trump doubled down the next day on TruthSocial calling Judge Boasberg a “Radical Left Lunatic Judge” who wanted “to assume the role of president”. His charge was then echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt who accused the judiciary generally of attempting to paralyse the administration’s programme, usurp the power of the president and undermine the will of the American people.

    White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Judge James Boasberg.

    Despite Judge Boasberg’s order, the plane carrying the Venezuelans did not turn back. The administration has denied wrongdoing and Judge Boasberg has yet to impose any penalty.

    This was not the first occasion that the administration has appeared to openly defy court orders. The previous week Dr Raiza Alawieh, a Brown University professor with an American visa was deported despite an order from a federal judge in Boston requiring that the court be given advance notice before the government attempted to remove her.

    All eyes on the Supreme Court

    All these cases are likely to go to the US Supreme Court. As its name suggests, this is the highest level of the judiciary in the US. It has the final say on what the US constitution means and authorises. At issue will be the scope of the presidential power – and the outcome is uncertain.

    It’s important to bear in mind that the court now has a six-to-three majority of conservative justices – three of whom were Trump nominees. We also need to be aware that this court, in a previous ruling, considerably extended the scope of presidential immunity to cover all official “core acts” so that, whatever the outcome, the president himself is unlikely to attract personal liability.

    But we do know that the Supreme Court’s ruling on a constitutional issue is final – and that all government officials at federal and state level will be required to respect it. The fear now is that the administration may go ahead regardless in which case we will find ourselves in unknown constitutional territory.



    Read more:
    US Supreme Court immunity ruling ideal for a president who doesn’t care about democracy

    To find parallels we could go back to the desegregation era of the middle of the 20th century and specifically to Little Rock in Arkansas where the then governor, Orval Faubus, called out the national guard to prevent the court-ordered desegregation of the local high school.

    The ensuing crisis ended when the then president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, sent in federal troops to enforce the court order. The US Supreme Court unanimously declared that its interpretations of what the constitution required were the supreme law of the land, which bound the governor and the state legislature.

    The chief justice of that era, Earl Warren, later regarded this ruling (Cooper v Aaron) as the most important of his time on the Supreme Court – more important even than the actual desegregation decision itself (Brown v Board of Education).

    It is clear that the judicial branch depends upon the executive to put its orders into effect and demonstrate respect for the rule of law and the separation of powers. But we now see a president who demonstrates open hostility to judges whom he considers have opposed him. His administration has also begun to vindictively target with punitive blocking orders the big law firms who assisted in the prosecutions brought against him before he took office.

    Does a constitutional crisis loom? How all this plays out remains to be seen.

    Anne Richardson Oakes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system – https://theconversation.com/us-stands-on-the-brink-of-a-constitutional-crisis-as-donald-trump-takes-on-americas-legal-system-249320

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Trump Administration Takes Down Top MS-13 Gang Leader

    Source: The White House

    Early this morning, the Trump Administration directed the successful apprehension of a key leader of the brutal MS-13 gang in Virginia — an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the United States. Thanks to a coordinated effort by federal law enforcement and state and local law enforcement in Virginia, this gang leader is no longer terrorizing our streets.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • Attorney General Pam Bondi: “America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13, he is off the streets. This has been an ongoing directive of President Trump. His directive to me when I became Attorney General of the United States was very simple: keep America safe.”
    • Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin: “It’s this effort that has been enabled by the Trump Administration. President Trump said, ‘Get the bad guys.’ I’ve been working on this — literally — for the first three years of our administration with little to no help from the senior leadership in the federal government in the Biden Administration. On Day One [of President Trump’s second term], we went to work signing a 287(g) memorandum.”
    • FBI Director Kash Patel: “This is what happens when you let good cops be cops and we’re going to continue to let good cops be cops across this country. President Trump gave us the executive decision to go after and safeguard our communities … We are returning our communities to safety.”
    • Attorney General Bondi: “From the second Donald Trump took office, he said he is going to make America safe. He shut down our borders — and now it’s our job to get these people out of our country as fast as we can … We will not have another Laken Riley.”
    • FBI Director Patel: “This task force is going to go everywhere as needed across the United States to bring the form of justice and measured security and safety that our American citizens deserve … If you are here illegally, you will not be here any longer — and if you are going to continue to commit acts of violent crime, you will meet the same fate that this individual did this morning.”
    • Governor Youngkin: “This task force was designed in the White House … architected in a very quick period of time and stood up immediately … I cannot emphasize enough the collaboration and support and leadership out of the new administration that is so different than what we saw [under the Biden Administration].”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: UPDATE – CalAmp Announces Headquarters Relocation to Carlsbad, CA to Streamline Operations and Strengthen Technical Hub

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CARLSBAD, Calif., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CalAmp, a global technology solutions innovator, today announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Irvine, CA, to Carlsbad, CA. This strategic move is designed to streamline operations and further align the company’s focus on its core technical hub, where much of its engineering, product development, and hardware expertise reside.

    “Our move to Carlsbad is a natural evolution in our journey to optimize efficiency and reinforce our commitment to innovation,” said Chris Adams, President and CEO of CalAmp. “Carlsbad has long been home to our talented engineering and product teams, making it the ideal location to centralize our operations and drive technological advancements that improve our customers’ lives.”

    CalAmp’s new headquarters will be housed in its existing Carlsbad office, a well-established center for the company’s research and development initiatives. The relocation underscores CalAmp’s commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing collaboration among its technical teams.

    While the headquarters moves to Carlsbad, CalAmp will maintain its additional offices worldwide, including locations in Eden Prairie, MN; Brooklyn, NY; London, UK; Milan, Italy; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; and Mexico City, Mexico. These offices will continue to support CalAmp’s global customers and partners with the high-quality service and solutions they expect.

    “This transition allows us to better leverage our strengths and position ourselves for future growth,” Adams added. “By consolidating our leadership and technical expertise in Carlsbad, we are creating an environment where innovation thrives and where we can better serve our customers.”

    For more information about CalAmp and its technology-driven solutions, visit www.calamp.com.

    About CalAmp

    CalAmp provides flexible solutions to help organizations worldwide monitor, track, and protect their vital assets. Our unique device-enabled software and cloud platform enables commercial and government organizations worldwide to improve efficiency, safety, visibility, and compliance while accommodating the unique ways they do business. With over 10 million active edge devices and 220+ approved or pending patents, CalAmp is the telematics leader organizations turn to for innovation and dependability. For more information, visit calamp.com, or LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or CalAmp Blog.

    CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER, Here Comes The Bus, Bus Guardian, CalAmp Vision, CrashBoxx and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Spireon acquired the LoJack® U.S. Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) business from CalAmp and holds an exclusive license to the LoJack mark in the United States and Canada. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    CalAmp Investor  Contact: CalAmp Media Contact:
    Jikun Kim Mark Gaydos
    SVP & CFO Chief Marketing Officer
    ir@calamp.com Mgaydos@calamp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Women are reclaiming their place in baseball

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Callie Maddox, Associate Professor of Sport Leadership and Management, Miami University

    For most baseball fans, hope springs eternal on Opening Day.

    Many of those fans – more than you might think – are women.

    A 2024 survey found that women made up 39% of those who attended or watched Major League Baseball games, and franchises have taken notice. The Philadelphia Phillies offer behind-the-scenes tours and clinics for their female fans, while the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees offer fantasy camps that are geared to women.

    The number of women working professionally in baseball has also grown. Kim Ng made history in 2020 when she became the first woman general manager of an MLB team, the Miami Marlins. As of 2023, women made up 30% of central office professional staff and 27% of team senior administration jobs. In addition, 43 women held coaching and managerial jobs across the major and minor league levels – a 95% increase in just two years.

    As a fan and scholar of the game, I’m happy to see more women watching baseball and working in the industry. But it still nags at me that the girls and women who play baseball don’t get much recognition, particularly in the U.S.

    Women take the field

    In the U.S., baseball is seen as a sport for boys and men. Girls and women, on the other hand, are supposed to play softball, which uses a bigger ball and has a smaller field.

    It wasn’t always this way.

    Women have been playing baseball in the U.S. since at least the 1860s. At women’s colleges such as Smith and Vassar, students organized baseball teams as early as 1866. The first professional women’s baseball team was known as the Dolly Vardens, a team of Black players formed in Philadelphia in 1867. Barnstorming teams, known as Bloomer Girls, traveled across the country to play against men’s teams from the 1890s to the 1930s, providing the players with independence and the means to make a living.

    American women have been playing baseball since at least the 1860s.
    Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

    The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, founded by Philip K. Wrigley in 1943, also offered women the chance to play professionally. The league, which inspired the 1992 film “A League of Their Own,” enforced rigid norms of femininity expected at the time. Players were required to wear skirts and makeup while playing and were fined if they engaged in any behavior deemed “unladylike.” Teams were open only to white women and light-skinned Latinas. Black women were not allowed to play, a policy that reflected the segregation of the Jim Crow era.

    Three Black women – Connie Morgan, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Toni Stone – did play in the otherwise male Negro Leagues in the early 1950s. However, their skills were often downplayed by claims that they’d been signed to generate ticket sales and boost interest in the struggling league.

    The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League folded in 1954, and by the late-1950s women’s participation in baseball had dwindled.

    Girls funneled into softball

    Softball was invented in Chicago in 1887 as an indoor alternative to baseball.

    Originally aimed at both men and women, it eventually became the accepted sport for girls and women due to its smaller field, larger ball and underhand pitching style – aspects deemed suitable for the supposedly weaker and more delicate female body.

    The passage of Title IX in 1972 further pushed the popularization of fast-pitch softball, as participation in high school and college increased markedly. In 1974, the National Organization for Women filed a lawsuit against Little League Baseball because the league’s charter excluded girls from playing. The lawsuit was successful, and girls were permitted to join teams.

    In response, Little League created Little League Softball as a way to funnel girls into softball instead of baseball. As political scientist Jennifer Ring has pointed out, this decision reinforced the gendered division of each sport and “cemented the post-Title IX segregated masculinity of baseball.”

    Girls can still play baseball, but most are encouraged to eventually switch to softball if they want to pursue college scholarships. If they want to keep playing baseball, they have to constantly confront stubborn cultural beliefs and assumptions that they should be playing softball instead.

    Instead of encouraging girls to play baseball, Little League launched Little League Softball to direct girls away from the sport.
    Chris Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images

    A global game

    You might be surprised to learn that the U.S. fields a national women’s baseball team that competes in the Women’s Baseball World Cup. But they receive scant media attention and remain unknown to most baseball fans.

    In a 2019 article published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues, I argued that the U.S. has experienced inconsistent success on the global stage because of a lack of infrastructure, limited resources and persistent gendered assumptions that hamper the development of women’s baseball. Other countries such as Japan, Canada and Australia have established solid pathways that allow girls and women to pursue baseball from the youth level through high school and beyond.

    That being said, opportunities for girls to play baseball are increasing in the U.S. thanks to the efforts of organizations such as Baseball for All and DC Girls Baseball.

    Approximately 1,300 girls play high school baseball, and a handful of young women play on men’s college baseball teams each year. In recent years, numerous women’s collegiate club baseball teams have been established; there’s even an annual tournament to crown a national champion.

    Japanese pitcher Yukari Isozaki competes during the 2010 Women’s Baseball World Cup in Venezuela.
    AP Photo/Fernando Llano

    Pro league in the works

    Momentum continues to build.

    MLB recently appointed Veronica Alvarez as its first girls baseball ambassador, who will oversee development programs such as the Trailblazers Series and the Elite Development Invitational. A new documentary film, “See Her Be Her,” is touring the country to celebrate the growth of women’s baseball and raise awareness of the challenges these athletes face.

    Perhaps most significantly, the Women’s Pro Baseball League announced that it is planning to start play in summer 2026 with six teams located in the northeastern U.S. Over 500 players from 11 countries have registered with the league, with a scouting camp and player draft scheduled for later this year.

    Should the league have success, it will mark a revitalization of women’s professional baseball in the U.S., a nod to the rich history of the women’s game and a commitment to securing opportunities for the girls and women who continue to defy cultural norms to play the game they love.

    Callie Maddox does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Women are reclaiming their place in baseball – https://theconversation.com/women-are-reclaiming-their-place-in-baseball-252590

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 26 March 2025 Living with scoliosis: the story of Yeliza

    Source: World Health Organisation

    At 15, Yeliza Natali began to notice a deformation in her spine, but no one around her paid much attention since she was too thin, and some bones protruded more than others. Growing up in rural Colombia, her constant back pain was attributed to hard work in the fields. Over the years, the discomfort became a barrier to her daily life, even forcing to change her job as a waitress to a lower-paying one, that was less physical.  

    At the age of 24, her reality changed when she was diagnosed with scoliosis. The medical recommendation was blunt: surgery. The possibility of undergoing surgery on her spine generated fear and uncertainty. However, before reaching that point, she was recommended to do rehabilitation with a physiotherapist to strengthen the muscles surrounding her spine. Thus began a long process of transformation.  

    The key to her recovery was her rehabilitation through a physical therapist, Marcela Bustamante, who accompanied her through every stage of the treatment, both physically and psychologically. In the beginning, the sessions were uncomfortable and challenging, but Yeliza stuck to the idea of avoiding surgery. As time passed, the results were evident: her posture improved, her pain decreased, and her mobility increased significantly. When she finally returned to the neurosurgeon’s office, the news was startling: her recovery had been so effective that surgery was no longer necessary.  

    But her road to a pain-free life did not end there. In total, her rehabilitation program spanned three years.  

    Access to therapy was not easy. The lack of a specialized center in her town forced her to travel six hours to Medellín, bearing the cost of transportation, lodging and per diems. Although the so-called Colombian Health Promoting Entities (EPS) covered the physiotherapy sessions, the long waits for appointments with specialists and the lack of resources in her community complicated her recovery. 

    Despite all the challenges faced, Yeliza was able to transform her life. Today, free of pain, she has her own catering business and enjoys activities that once seemed unthinkable. Her story is a testament to the power of rehabilitation.  

    “If I hadn’t undergone rehabilitation, I wouldn’t even be able to walk today without help,” she says. Her call to the authorities is clear: investing in rehabilitation is urgent. “Health is the most valuable thing we have.”  

    Yeliza’s story highlights Colombia’s lack of access to rehabilitation services, especially in rural areas. As long as rehabilitation services are not available in small towns, many people will continue to face economic and logistical barriers to receiving the treatment that can change their lives.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The United States remained the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter in 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    March 27, 2025

    The United States exported 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024, remaining the world’s largest LNG exporter. LNG exports from Australia and Qatar—the world’s two next-largest LNG exporters—have remained relatively stable over the last five years (2020–24); their exports have ranged from 10.2 Bcf/d to 10.7 Bcf/d annually, according to data from Cedigaz. Russia and Malaysia have been the fourth- and fifth-largest LNG exporters globally since 2019. In 2024, LNG exports from Russia averaged 4.4 Bcf/d, and exports from Malaysia averaged 3.7 Bcf/d.

    U.S. LNG exports remained essentially flat compared with 2023 mainly because of several unplanned outages at existing LNG export facilities, lower natural gas consumption in Europe, and very limited new LNG export capacity additions since 2022. In December 2024, Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 shipped its first export cargo, becoming the eighth U.S. LNG export facility in service. We estimate that utilization of LNG export capacity across the other seven U.S. LNG terminals operating in 2024 averaged 104% of nominal capacity and 86% of peak capacity, unchanged from the previous year. While Europe (including Türkiye) remained the primary destination for U.S. LNG exports in 2024, accounting for 53% (6.3 Bcf/d) of the total exports, the share of U.S. LNG exports to Asia increased from 26% (3.1 Bcf/d) in 2023 to 33% (4.0 Bcf/d) in 2024. U.S. LNG exports to other regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America, also increased last year and accounted for 14% (1.6 Bcf/d) of total exports, compared with 8% (0.9 Bcf/d) in 2023.

    In 2024, U.S. natural gas exports to Europe decreased by 19% (1.5 Bcf/d), mostly to countries in the EU and the UK. U.S. LNG exports increased only to Türkiye and Greece in 2024—by 0.2 Bcf/d and 0.1 Bcf/d, respectively, compared with 2023. Türkiye imported more U.S. LNG compared with the prior year mainly to offset a decline in imports from other countries, such as Egypt and Russia. U.S. LNG exports to other EU countries and the UK decreased by 24% (1.7 Bcf/d) compared with 2023, primarily because of lower natural gas consumption and high storage inventories following the mild 2023–24 winter. At the same time, LNG import capacity in the EU and the UK expanded by more than 40% between 2021 and 2024 and will continue to grow in 2025 once new and expanded regasification facilities in Croatia, Cyprus, and Italy come online.

    As in 2023, the Netherlands, France, and the UK imported the most U.S. LNG among countries in Europe, accounting for a combined 46% (2.9 Bcf/d) of the regional total. Since Germany started LNG imports in December 2022, U.S. LNG exports to Germany have grown and averaged 0.6 Bcf/d in both 2023 and 2024. However, in early 2025, Germany reduced its regasification capacity by terminating a charter for one of its floating storage and regasification units, citing high operational costs.

    In 2024, countries in Asia imported 33% (4.0 Bcf/d) of total U.S. LNG exports. Among countries in Asia, Japan, South Korea, India, and China imported the most U.S. LNG—a combined 76% (3.0 Bcf/d). U.S. LNG imports increased the most in India—by 0.2 Bcf/d. Other countries in Asia imported 24% (1.0 Bcf/d) of U.S LNG.

    In other regions, Egypt—a natural gas producer and LNG exporter—imported 0.3 Bcf/d of LNG from the United States, its first U.S. LNG imports since 2018. In recent years, Egypt’s domestic natural gas consumption, particularly in summer months, exceeded available supply and turned Egypt from an exporter to an importer of natural gas during several months of the year. In Brazil and Colombia, imports of U.S. LNG increased last year because drought reduced hydropower electricity generation and increased demand for generation from natural gas-fired power plants.

    Principal contributor: Victoria Zaretskaya

    MIL OSI USA News –